CompTIA Security+ (SY0-501) — Question 547

Which of the following is a random value appended to a credential that makes the credential less susceptible to compromise when hashed?

Answer options

• A. Nonce
• B. Salt
• C. OTP
• D. Block cipher
• E. IV

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is B, Salt, as it is specifically used to add randomness to hashed credentials, making them more secure against attacks like rainbow tables. A Nonce (A) is used for ensuring uniqueness in cryptographic operations, but does not serve the same purpose as Salt. OTP (C) refers to one-time passwords, which are not related to hashing, while Block cipher (D) and IV (E) pertain to encryption rather than hashing.